The Worlds Cultural Center

The high speeds of modern life don't leave us much time for other things, and we can often find ourselves rushing forward without ever having a chance even to catch our breath. Even the occasional break from work, the so-called vacation, just allows enough time to begin relaxing before its back to the grind again.

For someone who has been working their entire adult life, retirement can come as something of a shock. To suddenly have so much free time, with no work to fill it up... At first, you just want to relax. Take a break. Maybe do all those things you've always said you would do. Now you can start that book you always meant to write, learn to play the lute, catch up with old acquaintances. Whatever it is.

But in the end, it's just make-work. You are filling your days with effort, out of the habits forged from a life time of struggle. The best thing to do, is to move. Leave the city, the country, you have always known and travel somewhere a little different. Somewhere filled with beauty, both natural and man made. Somewhere you can relax in peace, a gentle evening after a long days work.

One of the best places for this is the Costa del Sol. Truly a center of the worlds art and culture, the sunny south coast of Spain, once unnoticed and forgettable, has taken central stage in recent years. The main reason for this, is the city of Malaga, which is rapidly becoming a more popular destination then even Paris. The city itself has had thousands of years to develop, and contains such wonders as the fort of Alcazabar.

If you're not interested in times long past, then the city still has plenty of modern entertainments for you. Consider the Picasso museum, one of the most significant in Europe. Considering the vital role Picasso played in the evolution of modern art, it is well worth a look, even if you aren't a particular fan of his. There are a number of high class restaurants, a choice of theatres, and of course the scenery is excellent.

Tall mountains cast a spell of grandeur over the nearby countryside, a beautiful contrast to the sparkling, crystal clear seas, and white beaches. Across the water can be glimpsed the coast of Africa, another continent tantalizingly just beyond reach. If natural sights are not your interest, you will undoubtedly admire all the more the brilliant white "sugar cube" villages, perched precariously on the edges of the mountains.

If you ever get bored of the city, and want something just a little more adventurous, there are dozens of golf courses right nearby, for which the area is justly famous. Given the range of them, and the gentle weather generally found there, you are practically guaranteed to have somewhere to gold at any time of the year. If you can ever find the time, of course, with so much else to do!

So if you are looking for somewhere to retire, or even just a nice break from the routine, I would definitely recommend you head down to Costa del Sol- the newest cultural center of the world.